Gratitude

After months of planning, lots of list making and organizing, I’m finally packed and ready to get on the plane tomorrow! On a scale from 1 to 10 of how excited I am, I’d say I’m at about 4000. While it’s hard to say goodbye to my life in Canada, it also feels a little like a homecoming. Being on the road and living out of a backpack has become such a huge part of my identity. It’s great to be actually doing it again, instead of endlessly talking and writing and reading about it.

I also wanted to take a minute and express a boatload of gratitude.

We’ve raised very close to $50,000 for the Roots and Wings projects in Kyrgyzstan. I am awed and so grateful for all the support we’ve gotten — both monetary and the encouragement we’ve gotten from friends and family — for a country that many people had never even heard of before, and the complete strangers who live there. It’s incredible.

With all of the terrible things that have been happening in the world lately, it’s really heartening to see such an outpouring of generosity and kindness. Go you!

And a special kudos to Roisin, who came up with this crazy scheme as a part of her continuation of her father’s amazing work in Kyrgyzstan. She has put so much love and hard work into this project. You’re the best, Rois, and I’m very blessed to call you my friend!

If you haven’t had the chance to donate, and would like to, you can do it over here: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jamiemphillips/karakolhike/nonprofit

All proceeds go directly to the projects. Thank you again, so much, for your generosity!!